And in vain (such is my opinion) will America
seek successfully to tune any superb national song unless the
heart-strings of the people start it from their own breasts--to be
return'd and echoed there again.
SHIP AHOY
In dreams I was a ship, and sail'd the boundless seas,
Sailing and ever sailing--all seas and into every port, or out
upon the offing,
Saluting, cheerily hailing each mate, met or pass'd, little or big,
"Ship ahoy!" thro' trumpet or by voice--if nothing more, some
friendly merry word at least,
For companionship and good will for ever to all and each.
FOR QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY
_An American arbutus bunch to be put in a little vase on the royal
breakfast table May 24th, 1890_.
Lady, accept a birth-day thought--haply an idle gift and token, Right
from the scented soil's May-utterance here, (Smelling of countless
blessings, prayers, and old-time thanks,)[45] A bunch of white and
pink arbutus, silent, spicy, shy, From Hudson's, Delaware's, or
Potomac's woody banks.
Note:
[45] NOTE.--Very little, as we Americans stand this day, with our
sixty-five or seventy millions of population, an immense surplus in
the treasury, and all that actual power or reserve power (land and
sea) so dear to nations--very little I say do we realize that curious
crawling national shudder when the "Trent affair" promis'd to bring
upon us a war with Great Britain--follow'd unquestionably, as that war
would have, by recognition of the Southern Confederacy from all
the leading European nations.
Pages:
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815